hd

ifer granholm. okay, i have a confession to make. it's not easy so bear with me. part of me is really going to miss outgoing tea party congressman alan allen west from florida. there is not a single thing we agree with, but i can always count on allen west to say something crazy. see for yourself.

>> jennifer: and the list goes on and on. so while i might mess miss allen west i'm thrilled, thrilled political newcomer patrick murphy is taking his place in congress. the contest between allen west and patrick murphy was one of the closest races less than 2,000 votes separated these two guys and allen west raised $17 million, compared to patrick murphy's $4 million. well tonight i'm so pleased to be able to welcome congressman elect patrick murphy of florida's 18 district back inside "the war room." so good to have you back. >> thank you governor, it's an honor to be here. >> jennifer: all right so i made a little confession. i want to you make a confession,

too. you're really probably going to be boring compared to allen west, aren't you? >> unfortunately, i think you're right. he sure did light up the airwaves. we've had interviews with some of the local press, and they said patrick we're glad you run, but he did sell a lot of newspapers. >> jennifer: yes, did he. i don't know if you want to take on that kind of attention any way. the district probably welcomes boring and competent. what does it say to you about the districts and maybe the mood out there that despite being outspent 4-1 that you were able to beat the guy who is a poster child of the tea party. >> money can't buy elections. that's huge. this election sent a message to the country that despite all the money and negativity in this race we prevailed. the voters saw through it. beyond that i think this send a

message to the congress and really everybody in the country that the tea party is dying. they want to get things done, the my way or the highway mentality is not what voters want. it did not move our country forward. i'm happy to represent the 18th district in florida and i'm looking forward to going to washington, d.c. >> jennifer: what you described is an interesting juxtaposition that is happening in d.c. right now, the fiscal cliff and the rights and the soul of the republican party. i'm wondering how you feel whether they resolve it before you come to town? i know you want to avert a crisis, but at the same time deep down do you wish you had a chance to be part that have particular vote? >> look, for the sake of our country, i hope this is resolved before i get there. you know i've been talking to business owners throughout the corinth for months now.

they want certainty predictability from our government. they realize that our taxes are going to be up a little bit. they know there is going to reform to social security and medicare, they want to know so they know how to plan for their companies. i hope it's resolved before i get there if not so be it, i see this as an opportunity for america to lead the way. china is slowing down. india is slowing down. europe is in a recession. south america is slowing down. we have an opportunity to lead out of this mess. i hope we take the lead. >> jennifer: everyone wants to prevent going over over the cliff you still will have a lot of issues on how best to lead the country forward. allen west will be gone but there will be tea partyers remain.

how do you work with people who think compromise is a bad word? >> look, i was just earlier with the republican part of my district today and met with a lot of republican commissioners. the message i told them is what i told everybody. whether you're a republican, democrat, i have an open door. i want to hear your thoughts, your concerns and i want to be your voice in washington, d.c. i plan to represent 100% of this district and being a passionate voice for everybody. i hope i can sit down with everybody in d.c. and whether republican democrat, tea party or not. i want to hear their point of view. i imagine they'll disagree, but i hope this race in particular my defeat of allen west will send a signal and maybe a warning shot over their bo bow that things are changing. >> jennifer: for those of us who have not been inside the

orientation, how did that go? what do they do to orient new members of congress? >> they get all the new freshman members of congress, republican and democrat, and they put us in a lot of sort of halls, a lot of meetings with--you go overrules regulation ethics, and committee assignments, that sort of thing what to expect, common mistakes by freshman, loose of this back-office stuff. i wish it was more policy driven but you have to learn the rules first. >> jennifer: you have to know where the bathrooms are before you get start. >> exactly. >> jennifer: the house has not made committee assignments yet have you gotten assignment yet probably. what committee do you hope to be on? >> i hope to be on financial services. the reason for that, my background is a cpa. also what is going to be done in thecongress will have to do with

services. my district is no different. we're really hit very hard by the housing crisis, and i want to be in a position to help out my district. >> jennifer: all right patrick murphy who first appeared for his first national appearance on this show. we are claiming him as our own congratulations. >> thank you, governor. >> jennifer: up next, so we know that the g.o.p. is a little bit of a train wreck right now. what should democrats be doing? we'll get an answer to-to-that question from one of the best in the business. you will not want to miss this.

[ male announcer ] red lobster's crabfest ends soon. hurry in and try five succulent entrees like our tender snow crab paired with savory garlic shrimp. just $12.99. come into red lobster and sea food differently. and introducing 7 lunch choices for just $7.99. salads, sandwiches, and more.

[ ♪ theme music ♪ ] >> jennifer: first republicans lost the election, now they're losing their cool. speaker boehner is battling against his right flank as we're discussing. it's a right on right battle. what should the democrats do in this g.o.p. internal party

scrap? should they give them breathing room? go for the jugular or avoid them at all costs. >> speaker boehner was here for a christmas party. the two of you did not even speak. what will it take to get the two of you in a room to hash this out. >> obama: will speaker boehner and i speak frequently. >> when will the two of you sit down in a room. >> obama: i don't think the issue right now has to do with sitting in a room. >> jennifer: he's totally right by that, by the way. president obama reiterated that he's on board with entitlement reform and cuts but the republicans have to budge on tax rates for the wealthy. harry reid had this for the republicans. >> i sympathize sympathize with john boehner. the tea party has a firm grip on the republican party. we are not going to twist ourselves into contortions to please a vocal minority of the

tea party. >> jennifer: that's fascinating a new approach for harry reid feeling sorry for john boehner. i'm not sure how john boehner feels about that. with me is karl frisch in washington and donny welcome back inside "the war room"." >> it's a party. >> jennifer: yeah, all good stuff. karl i'll start with you. how should democrats be handling this tea party revolt? should they do more to assist speaker boehner? >> we should be throwing gas on the fire. this is an emporer with no clothes. when we were pushed to fiscal cliff it was because john boehner promised something to the president and could not get members of his caucus do the

right thing for the american people. >> i don't think we should be putting more gas on the karl what you're saying when your enemy is committing suicide, don't step in and interrupt? >> jennifer: break out the popcorn and sit back and watch the fight. a right on right fight. >> they're the ones who are responsible. don't blame us. >> what you risk about allowing them to fight with each other is going over the fiscal cliff and plunging us into another recession. when i say put gas on the fire, we cannot sit here and wait for them to self-destruct. it does not get the job done in washington. what gets the job in washington is standing up loud and proud and look at what they're doing to us. if we don't do that, we will squander another opportunity to show the american people that democrats are doing what is right for the working class in this country, and republicans are standing in the way to protect the tax cuts--

>> and that's the democrat's job here. it's to look like they're being responsible adults and putting real solutions on the table. they're doing this. >> jennifer: fact, there was a "washington post" poll that was released today that shows 53% of americans believe republicans in congress would be to blame if an agreement is not reached by january 1st. 27% only, half say president obama would be to blame. using that to their advantage and being the responsible adults is not just stepping back, but pointing out what is obvious. >> we do have to solve the problem. whether republican or something else we do have to solve the problems. let's not step in and solve their problem for them. the problem that the democrats and the president and are ultimately responsible for is the fiscal cliff. >> jennifer: karl, is the fiscal cliff a republican party? it's a problem for us, but the

political side, isn't it really a problem for them? >> it's a huge problem, not just in the immediate where we are right now sense of the word. i'm surprised when they showed them to blame i guess in the halls of congress the republicans said yes we're ahead in the poll. this boiled down to their fading power with their fading demographics in the country and the demographics that look poorly on them. acting as spoiled children that hold this country ransom does not help them with any of the demographics that reelected this house, increased the number of democrats in the house or the senate. >> the tea party might say we won one and we lost one. we won 2010. we lost 2012 because we were too moderate. we had a meally mouth nominee--

>> i believethey're in a position-- >> if they act like real conservatives, real nut jobs, then we're proven right. they're blinded by their own ideology. >> i'm not surprised that a party who does not believe in evolution has only a memory that goes back to 2010. we might have to remember further back, and this would be three-for-four for democrats of late with this president and the current body of congress. >> jennifer: i want to get to the end game, though, which is always my want. i want to figure out how they're going to resolve it. going over the cliff is one way to resolve it, but short of that, if we assume that the deal with be put together at the 11th hour, the deal itself, some people are saying would be that you put a bill forward in the house that democrats will vote for, and that republicans will only vote present on.

it's a way to give them an ability to save face. do you think that is one of the ways. >> that's as fun as kissing your sister. >> jennifer: well, at least it's a kiss. >> oh my goodness. >> jennifer: on the cheek, on the cheek. >> hey look, the american people want some leadership and bipartisan leadership and solutions. saying i'm here but i don't have an opinion does not help the republican party. >> jennifer: or does it help in the tax increase. karl we'll get back after the break. you guys stay right where you are, and after the break we'll talk about a couple of other things going on. will hillary clinton trade the world stage for the big apple top job? or plus there is a lot of speculation about anna windpower vogue editor will bring a new sound to our diplomatic core. we'll be right back. commercials? those types are coming on to me all the time now. (vo) she gets the comedians

thinking. >>ok, so there's wiggle room in the ten commandments, that's what you're saying. you would rather deal with ahmadinejad than me. >>absolutely. >> and so would mitt romney. (vo) she's joy behar. >>and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking?

jennifer speaks truth to power. >>the bottom line is we need an amendment. >>now it's your turn. connect with "the war room" jennifer granholm. >>it's a call to arms. make your voice heard. >> jennifer: when it comes to secretary of state hillary clinton there is no shortage of speculation or what is next for her career. a lot of democrats are hoping to see her make a presidential run in 2016, but it seems new york

mayor michael bloomberg has a different idea. bloomberg called clinton and urged her to run for his job in in 2013 after she completes her tenure as secretary of state. should the big apple be secretary clinton's next gig? might be there a job for her there in four years. here after the moves of general petraeus we have karl frisch and donnie fowler. mayor clinton. >> mayor chelsey clinton. >> jennifer: you think hillary clinton would be interested in being mayor? >> no, as great as new york is, i think it would feel like a demotioning to from traveling the world as secretary of state to dining the fine restaurant of

new york. i think they'll vote in quinn. >> jennifer: karl, let me follow up with you. there is a new york democrat nate shinigoa who lost his race, but he received a letter from hillary clinton, and he posted it on his facebook. and she's in fact in that letter encouraging him to keep on fighting in the political website, saying that is new for clinton. do you think she's building support for a presidential campaign? >> i don't think she's building support to go on a nice long vacation. >> jennifer: i totally agree. >> which is probably what she's going to do, take a break while her team puts everything together. it's smart politics congratulating, and offering condolences to anyone who lost. i think it's pretty normal.

i think it's usual that a candidate would put it up for the world to see but i think it's a smart thing for her to do whether or not she wants to run for president. >> jennifer: honestly, to me more than the other tea leaves out there, that to me today was the biggest sign that she is open-- >> keeping options open. >> jennifer: absolutely. you don't send out--send out congratulations or condolence people to lost much less than i'm sure she sent them out to those who won. >> who knows who andrew cuomo is the candidates have to spend the next year or two introducing themselves. as karl said she is going on vacation and have people write letters. she doesn't have to do the leg work that other democrats have to do. >> jennifer: she wants it has it if she she

wants it, and she may be considering that machine. there is another interesting story about woodward oring that ayles encouraged general petraeus to run for president. does that surprise you? >> i feel like the home alone kid. i'm so surprised ailes encouraging him for president. no, this fits perfectly. they have said that the president of the united states is a communist fascist socialist, cartoonist pianist and anything they can attach to him, unamerican apologizing for america leader. what did they do? what is the exact opposite of that, a four-star american military general. let's get him to run for president against fascist unamerican barack obama.

that makes sense. i wish people would put this case to rest. it has been proven without a shadow of a doubt that news is not a news agency. >> what? >> jennifer: we're shocked. >> what? >> jennifer: wait a second before we go we only have a minute left. first of all, do you think petraeus still has a future. >> he has a future speaking, writing books. >> jennifer: let me ask you about this, the name now potentially as someone who could be ambassador to france or england, is that someone who has been a supporter of the president. >> the sexyiest ambassador in history. let's have it. >> i think the devil would be awesome to have diplomatic immunity. >> jennifer: thank you so much for joining me inside "the war room." >> thanks, governor. >> jennifer: you bet. we'll tell you who the republicans are blaming for

their losses in the 2012 election, and yes, you will laugh. we'll be right back. (vo) she gets the comedians laughing and the thinkers thinking. >>ok, so there's wiggle room in the ten commandments, that's what you're saying. (vo) she's joy behar. >>current will let me say anything.

>> jennifer: it has been so fun watching the g.o.p. implode since the election. we've got great seats here in "the war room" where we're covering all of these political battles, but i'm starting to worry about really our republican friends the loss is driving them to crazy town, and they might never return. a new poll found that 49% of g.o.p. voters think that acorn

stole the election for president obama--acorn. that seems like probably an improvement from the 52% who thought the same thing in 2008. until you remember that acorn no longer exists at all. some republicans have actually gone further off the deepened. rick santorum, for example still smarting from his own party loss and the shellacking from the party that he supports he has greed to be columnist for "world net daily." you hopefully do not know this. this publishes rivetting stories like america on linen's path to war fair, or of course, you remember this one when animals are afraid they don't pray. well, i would pray if i was rick